A Carol Christmas

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TORI SPELLING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is your favorite holiday memory?

My favorite holiday memory is every Christmas time with my family.  Although we are Jewish, we celebrate Christmas time not as a religious holiday but as a coming together of family and just a celebratory occasion.  Every year my brother Randy and I sleep over at my parents’ house.  We wear our Christmas PJs and on Christmas morning my Mom and Dad come in to wake us early.  We all pile downstairs, where we have breakfast together and spend the day lounging around, opening gifts, telling stories, laughing, and just enjoying each others company.  I look forward to this time of year all year long.

What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever given?

The most thoughtful Christmas gift I've ever given was serving Christmas meals to the homeless at The Los Angeles Mission.  Anyone can pay money and buy someone a great gift, but it meant so much to me that I gave my time and really helped those who had been lost in our society have a little happiness on such an important holiday.  Seeing their grateful faces made my holiday complete.  It’s a great feeling and a wonderful cause and I recommend that everyone help out The Los Angeles Mission.  They are making great changes and helping so many everyday!

What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever received?

The most thoughtful gift I've ever received was from my boyfriend Charlie Shanian last Christmas.  Among some really creative presents he bought for me, he also gave me a homemade scrapbook.  Every page included beautiful hand drawn pictures and reasons why he loved me.  It was so touching and beautiful.  I hold it close to my heart always and read it every time I feel down or need a smile.  Feeling loved is the best gift of all!

When you read the script for “A Carol Christmas,” what were your first impressions?

I loved the script "A Carol Christmas" from the moment I read it.  First of all, I love the Charles Dickens novel "A Christmas Carol" and I love Hallmark.  Hallmark does such

quality movies and they all have such heart.  I knew I wanted to be in business with them.  I also was so excited to be involved with a Christmas movie.  What a great thing to show your kids one day.  It's always been a dream of mine to do a Christmas movie.

What was it about this project – and this character – that appealed to you?

This project appealed to me because I love the original "A Christmas Carol" and what a great idea to do a version with a FEMALE Scrooge.  Plus, although Carol was a naughty character at first, she had some very funny moments (and I LOVE doing comedy!).  Also, with Carol going back and forth in time thanks to all three spirits who visit her, I got to play five different Carols.  What a great opportunity for an actress!

How did you approach playing such a well-known part?

My approach on Carol, the modern day Scrooge, was basically – I thought of her as a real person.  A fragile soul who had been misguided and had turned hardened because of everything and everyone she had dealt with.  Through all of it I saw the real Carol as a good person who had gone awry but had such potential.  I developed a character I thought was suitable for her and then got to play her younger, older, nicer, meaner. Adding comedy to this modern day retelling of such a famous story made it light – and her embraceable.  I ran the whole gamut with this character.  It was a great, challenging rollercoaster with her.  I loved every minute!

If you’d ever seen “A Christmas Carol” before taking on this project, what sort of impact did it have on you?

I did see "A Christmas Carol" as a child and teen and also read the novel.  It was a favorite of mine growing up, which made this project all the more special for me!  As a child, I hated Scrooge at first – and then loved him by the end because he was able to "get it" and change his life and behavior.  It takes a strong character to admit he's led a misguided life due to all his wrongdoings and make amends before its too late.  What a great message.

Why do you think Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is so well loved?

“A Christmas Carol" is so well loved because it gives fundamental advice to all.  Respect and be kind to others!  The moral of "A Christmas Carol" is important for any child or adult (its never too late!) to integrate into their own life.  It’s never too late to realize your mistaken ways and your impact on others’ lives.  It’s a lesson we all can learn and grow from.

“A Carol Christmas” really pokes fun at Hollywood egos.  Have you ever met anyone who remotely resembles Carol Cartman in your real life?

No, thank goodness, I have not met a real life Carol Cartman.  I have been blessed in this industry to have made some great friends and have worked with some wonderful professional actors.  The fun part was not basing Carol on anyone but creating her from within myself.  I have always played such "good girls" and vulnerable females that playing mean-spirited Carol was a great opportunity to stretch myself as an actress.

If you could be visited by a Ghost of Christmas Past, Present or Future, which would you choose – and why?

I wouldn't choose any of the three spirits.  I believe who I was in my past has made me the person I am today.  I am proud of that person I have become.  Of course, we all make mistakes, but life is continually a growing process.  We are always works in progress.  I wouldn't want to be visited by the Ghost of Christmas Future, either, because I don't want to know the outcome yet.  I feel I am on a good path, I am a good person, and the best is yet to come.  Bring it on!

You’ve done a lot of theater since your days on “Beverly Hills 90210.”  How has your experience on stage differed from your screen roles?

My first theatrical performance in "Maybe Baby, It’s You," written by Charlie Shanian and Shari Simpson, was one of the best experiences of my life.  I had never done live theater before, simply because I had severe stage fright.  When I read and saw this play, though, I just couldn't pass it up.  It was an actor's dream.  I played 11 characters in different comedic vignettes, all searching for their soul mate.  Not only did I LOVE performing in front of a live audience every night, but I found MY soul mate, Charlie, who co-wrote it and starred opposite me.

Whom do you think “A Carol Christmas” will appeal to – and what do you hope they’ll get from watching the movie?

I hope "A Carol Christmas" appeals to EVERYONE!  Its intent is really meant for all ages.  I think anyone who views it will, hopefully, take something away from it.  It’s a comedic, warmhearted take on "A Christmas Carol," so I hope people laugh, cry, smile, and have as good a time watching it as I did making it!   Happy Holidays to all.  xoxox

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